•  The Name Costa Rica

   In Spanish, "Costa Rica" means "Rich Coast." The name was given by Spanish explorers, assuming the area would be rich in precious minerals. While Costa Rica failed to meet the Spaniards' expectations, today's visitors discover that its richness lies in its natural beauty, abundance of flora and fauna, and welcoming residents.

Costa Rica is formally known as the Republic of Costa Rica.

•  Location, Borders and Area

   Costa Rica is located in the northern hemisphere, in Central America.. It is bordered by Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south, with the Pacific Ocean to the west and Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean Sea) to the east. It is just 51,100 square kilometers (19,652 sq. miles) in area, approximately the size of West Virginia. The distance from the Atlantic to Pacific Oceans is only 320 km (200 miles), three to four hours by car.

•  Constitution and Government

   Costa Rica is a democratic republic with a stable government. It has three governmental branches, Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary. The president is elected every four years by democratic popular vote. San José is the capital city. There are seven administrative provinces, Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, and San José.The current constitution dates November 7, 1949 when Costa Rica abolished its military investing instead in infrastructure, free mandatory public education for all and universal healthcare.

•  Geography and Climate

   Despite Costa Rica's small size, its geography varies considerably. The elevation begins at sea level and peaks at 3,810 meters. Volcanoes, rain forests, beaches, rivers, and rich valleys can be reached in little more than an hour drive from anywhere in the country. And with each change of location and altitude comes climate variations from dry to arid and warm to cool. The climate is generally quite pleasant and stays relatively the same all year round with variations existing more by location than time of year. The central valley has an average temperature of 72ºF while the coastal areas range from 70ºF to 90ºF.The rainy season, running from May to November is considered winter in Costa Rica, while the drier season from December to April is referred to as summer. Again, the amount of rainfall varies greatly depending on location.

•  Population

   The population of Costa Rica is 3,834,934 (July 2002 est.) with a population density of 62.7 inhabitants per square mile (1998 est.) and a growth rate of 1.61% (2002 est.). 94% of Costa Ricans (referred to as Ticos) are white, of predominantly Spanish descent, 3% of African heritage, 1% native, 1% Asian, and 1% other. Most of the original native inhabitants died from diseases brought by native settlers.

•  Language

   Spanish is the official language of Costa Rica and is the primary language used throughout most of the country. However, inhabitants of the Caribbean coastal areas more commonly speak English as their native language. Additionally, English is commonly used in business and is now taught as a second language to all public school students. As a result, there is a growing population of Costa Ricans able to communicate in English.

•  Religion

   The vast majority of Costa Rican's, 76%, are Roman Catholic. Other religions represented include Evangelical, other Protestant, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Jewish.

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